Neural interfacing belongs on this list — particularly as it pertains to fully immersive VR and as a precursor to mind transfer (not to mention a myriad of other applications).

I took a quick look at the Lindeman haptics paper and their proposal for feedback suits and other wearable devices meant to simulate real-world tactile and sensory stimuli.

While I am sure that this will be a technologically necessary step on the path to fully immersive VR, it won’t actually be truly immersive and believable until the development of more powerful neural interfaces.

Specifically I’m thinking of the so-called brain-jack or similar device that will drill directly into the sensory cortex. Once this has been achieved there will be no need for wearable devices that merely simulate experience. Tapping into the sensory and motor cortices will enable us to over-write unwanted incoming sensory data and replace it with the simulated experience — including touch, smell, sound, and even neurotransmitters like adrenaline.

The trick is to figure out how to do this, but I don’t think it’s beyond theoretical possibility.

1 comment:

I've slowly become interested in the transhumanism movement, basically after reading the Singularity is Near. I really enjoy your blog, keep it up, looking forward to accessing some of the lectures from the upcoming conference in Chicago, wish I could be there! Cheers! When I talk to most people about this stuff, I get either a blank stare because they have no idea what I'm talking about, or they look at me like I'm crazy, it's so awesome to read opinions of like-minded people who are aware of what's coming down the pipe and considering the implications!

George Dvorsky

Canadian futurist, science writer, and ethicist, George Dvorsky has written and spoken extensively about the impacts of cutting-edge science and technology—particularly as they pertain to the improvement of human performance and experience. He is a contributing editor at io9, the Chairman of the Board at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and is the program director for the Rights of Non-Human Persons program.